Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It was 38%, or €34.9 million.

People often use the word "error". However, there are those who make claims at social welfare offices who do not fully reveal their personal circumstances. In some instances, this is because they are genuinely mistaken or they forget to provide some detail. In other instances, they are given the benefit of the doubt because matters are not pursued once their actual circumstances have been identified. Last year, we referred approximately 300 cases of serious social welfare fraud to the authorities for pursuing prosecutions. Deputies will have seen and read the reports relating to the court cases which arose as a result. It is important to send out a message that the State is not a pushover for those who take badly needed social welfare payments away from other people. As already stated, the former are giving the two fingers to those in employment who pay PRSI and tax and to people who really need social welfare payments. We must be absolutely clear about that matter.

Where evidence of an overpayment comes to light, the repayment of said overpayment is then sought. I am of the opinion that this is the correct approach. Deputy Ó Snodaigh is very knowledgeable with regard to social welfare and he will be aware that community welfare service officers are now in the direct employment of the Department of Social Protection. These officers are extremely caring in their attitude towards people. I accept that there can be complaints in respect of individual social welfare officers. However, I meet large numbers of people in the course of my work as Minister for Social Protection and they are extremely complimentary about the staff of my Department and about how considerate they are with regard to individual family circumstances, special needs payments, etc.

I cannot accept the Bill because it is flawed. I am of the view that the two social welfare amnesties which occurred in and around the early 1990s were hopeless. Some 500 people came forward on each occasion but the Department had already detected their cases. Those individuals were given a complete amnesty. Deputy Ó Snodaigh suggested that what is proposed in the Bill will only cost approximately €50 million, the amount we recovered last year. No more than the €200 million to which reference has been made, €50 million is a great deal of money. I do not know that taxpayers and, in particular, those who pay PRSI - to whom I, as Minister for Social Protection, am accountable - would thank Sinn Féin for stating that their PRSI and tax should increase by €50 million in order to provide for an amnesty relating to a failure to recoup moneys paid through error and fraud.

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